Eugene h



(No Model.)

E. H. PEUK & A. H. JONES.

METAL TABLE. I

No. 398,182. Patented Feb. l9,1889.

UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFicE.

EUGENE H. PEOK AND AUGUSTUS H. JONES, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE MERIDEC BRONZE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

METAL TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,182, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed N0vemberZ6,1888- Serial No. 291,882 (No model) T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EUGENE lil. PECK and AUGUSTUS H. JONES, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new Improvements in Metal Tables; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, t) he a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side view of a table e1nbodying the invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section through a portion of the top, showing the extensible connection between the leg and top; Fig. 3, a modification in the extensible connection between the leg and top; Fig. 4, a side view of the table as employed for a lampstandard; Fig. 5, a sectional view of a portion of the top, showing a modification in the extensible connection between the top and leg, Fig. 6, a vertical section through the support and showing a portion of oneleg, illustrating the engagement of the leg with the supports; Fig. 7 an under side view of a portion of the support at the leg, showing the parts in the position seen in Fig. 6.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of tables which are constructed from n'ietalthat is, with metal. legs and a metal top, which top is sometimes adapted to receive a plate or covering of other material.

In the more general construction of this class of tables the top is small and the lower ends of the legs are turned outward, so as to project a considerable distance beyond the edge of the table to give afirm support for the table. In transportation, because of this turned-out character of the legs, the tables occupy a very large space in proportion to their actual bulk, so that the expense of packing and transportation is very much increased over what would be the case were the packages less bulky.

The object of our invention is to construct the table so that the legs may be turned inward in packing, but readily turned outward when the table is set up; and the invention consists in connecting the legs at the upper end with the table so as to form a pivot in nin g through a support at some distance be low the table, by which the spread of the legs may be prevented, the said support station ary with reference to the top of the table, but the legs movable vertically through the said support and the support constructed with a recess at the openings, through which the legs pass, and the legs constructed with corresponding studs, which will engage with the said recesses in the support when thelegs are turned outward and prevent the rotation of the legs, but so that when the legs are withdrawn a short distance from the top the said studs will pass out of said recesses and their rotation be permitted, so that the turned-out portion of the legs may be reversed in position and brought into acontracted space, as more fully hereinafter described.

A represents the table-top, which may be of any of the usual constructions or material.

B B represent the legs, which are also of the usual form, generally cylindrical in shape, attached by their upper end to the top, and their lower end curved outward, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

0 represents a support, which is attached to the table-top, so as to be stationary with relation thereto, said support being in a horizontal plane, and so that the legs B run through a corresponding opening in the supports, as seen in Fig. (3. The top is constructed upon its under side with recesses a, into which the upper end of the legs is adapted to enter as a pivot upon which the legs may rotate. The legs are secured to the top by a screw or bolt-say, as b, Fig. 2-introduced through the top of the table and screwed into the upper end of the leg, so that the legs will be drawn into the recess in the top of the table and be there firmly seated. Thelegs usually diverge somewhat from the table to the support 0, the outward curve commencing below the said support, as represented. the support through which the legs run a notch, d, is made, preferably upon the inner and under side, so as not to be exposed, and into the legs a stud, e, is introduced, here rep At the openings in IOO - draw the leg to a bearing on the table-top.

tially hold the legs in that position.

resented as a common screw, which corresponds to the said recesses, and so that when a leg is drawn to its place its stud will stand in said recess, as seen in Fig. (3, the position of the stud and recess being such that when theinterlocking has taken place the leg will stand in its normal position that is, with the curve Outward.

The table thus constructed stands firm, as in the usual construction.

\Vhen it is desired to pack the table or to prepare the table for storage, the screw h is withdrawn from each leg, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, which will permit the legs to be drawn away from the table-top until the studs 6 are out of the notches, as seen in broken lines in, Fig. 6. Then the legs may be rotated until the curve is inward, as rep-- resented in broken lines, Fig. 1, when the screw may be again reset, so as to substan- It is not necessary to provide a notch for the stud in this contracted position, as the stud may simply rest against the under side of the support and the leg be drawn up by the screw sufficient to simply confine the leg. Then, when it is required for use the operation is reversed and the parts brought to their normal condition.

In. the construction as seen in Fig. 2 a detachable top, D, is provided, which covers the heads of the screws.

The devices for attaching the legs to the top may be various, as, for illustration, as seen in Fig. 3, where a screw-threaded sleeve, E, is arranged to slide over the end of the leg and the leg constructed with an annularflange,f, which will set into the recess, the recess threaded corresponding to the sleeve, and so that screwing the sleeve into the recess will In this case there need be no opening through the top of the table; or it may be, as seen in i Fig. 5, the leg B constructed with a screwshank, which extends through the top of the table, and an ornamental nut, as F, set thereon. This last construction is particularlyadapted for tables or supports for standard lamps, as seen in Fig. 4. In. this case the top is of small area and the standard passes through the tabletop to the support below and makes the connection between the support and the top. This is a class of lamps well known and of a table-like character embodying this invention. This illustration will be sut'ticient to enable others skilled in the art to apply it to various purposes for which it is adapted. Therefore, while describing the invention asa table, we wish to be understood as including tables or like supports for any purpose.

It will also be understood that we do notlimit our invention to any particular connection between the legs and the table-top, it only being essential that that connection shall be extensible for the purposes which we have described.

\Ve claim Theherein-described improvennz nt in metal tables, consisting of a top combined with several legs, a support below the table-top and through which the legs pass, the legs curved outward below the said supports and rotatable in said supports, the legs connected to the table at their upper ends by'an extensible pivot, and the supports below constructed with a notch upon their under side, and the legs with a corresponding stud, the said studs and notches adapted to interlock when the legs are in the turned-out position, substantially as described, and whereby the said legs upon being withdrawn from the top may be turned to bring the curve inward.

EUGENE H. PECK. AUGUSTUS I-I. JONES.

Witnesses:

E. A. MERRIMAN, J. E. DURAND. 

